Draft-gear.



Patented Aug. 26, 19 13.

J. P. GOURSON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED nEoIn, 1911.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE} JOHN F. counsoN, or PITCAIRN. rENNsYLvANrA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

way cars, etc..and it has for its object to,

provide a draft gear of simple construction and high etli ioncy designed. to utilize the;

wedging and releasingqualities of wedge blocks between a central butting member and surroumling friction members, said wedge blocks preferably having faces disposed. at varying angles adapted to positively release and to exert great frictional engagement, in combination with the usual co-acting parts of such equipments.

lhe invention-relates particularly to the construction. arrangement and mounting of the intervening secondary wedge blocks or pieces.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invent'ion-Figure 1 is a view of the mechanism in side elevation, partly in section. showing the parts in extended position. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line ll. ll. otFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar cross section, showing a slight modification in the construction of the centering key. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view on the line IV. IV. of Fig. 5, showing a modified arrangement of the secondary wedge blocks. Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line V. V. of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of one of the wedge blocks of the construction shown in Figs. 1. 9 and 3.

Figs. 7 and S are similar views, showing the female and male -niembers of the wedge blocks used in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4.- Fig. 9 is a detail view of the centering key illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the centering key illustrated'in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2 represents the draw- I bar of the coupler fixedly connected with the yoke 3 by transverse rivets 4 in the manner customary in this art, said yoke embracing the casing or cylinder at top and bottom, as shown, the yoke and easing Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed December 11, 1911. Serial No. 665,011.

' (us is extended, or in any operative =posi t i n,.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

The numerals-6 and'l'design'ate a tilling f block and follower plate respectively, set against the rearend of easing 5 and against the outer end ofblock 6 bears the rounded end 8 of the 'strap..3, .;the.-filling block being 0 preferably secured to the end of the strap, as indicated at .9.

The numeral 10 designates a follower plate, like .-plate '7. Eachv of these plates extends outlaterally at each-side, of theyoke 3 and .bears against the usual front 1 and-back stops of any suitable construction t J: secured to the center Ellis and wh ch provide abutments against pulling and butting. strains respectively, as is well .understood.-; v7t A plurality of friction blocks or shoes 1 h outwardly cylindrical when; assembled. of

segmental form, are inserted within the cyl inder 3 and bear by their inner ends against a spring '14. which in turn bear baelnvardly against the inner end of the cylinder The central pressure bar. 11, provided with an inner blunt wedge terminal 1 bears by its outer end against the follower 10. Surrounding the wedge terminal 15 and intervening between it and the shoes 13, are a plurality of secondary wedges 1G of any desired number. The inner facesef-i' the friction blocks or shoes 13,-are-prefer; ably tapered, as at 17, at an acnteangle'to the longitudinal center of the drawbar. the outer faces of the secondary wedge blocks 16 being similarly tapered at the same angle, as at 18, and contacting therewith: 4 I

The wedge terminal 15 of eentralpre'ssnre .90 bar 11 is provided with inclined wedge faces at a more abrupt, blunt; or obtuse angle to the longitudinal'eenter of the drawhai'. and; engage the inner correspondingly inclined more obtuse faces-2Q of secondary wedge blocks 16. Theinner' euds of, the secondary wedge blocks 16 art adapted to ljelniai-n v tained againstcollap sing. when then ppara;

for which purpose they are positively hrac'edme,

apart at" their innerends and also retained against longitudinal shifting. In one form of the invention have provided for such action by inserting between the wedges an intermediate centering key or support 21 .)96 Said key,'in the construction shown inFiQs' 1, 2 and 9, is suhstantially .1'ectangular,. ha ing its edges and-corners rounded, as shown,

and is inserted between the inner terminals of the secondary wedges 16, which are provided with receiving recesses 22, between inwardly extending lips 23, 24, as clearly shown. i Y

In Figs. 3 and 10, I show a modified con- 5 struction ofkey 21 made in the form of a round disk, the edges of which are similarly rounded and adapted to seat in similar recelving grooves and toperform the same function! In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the intermediate wedge'blocks 16 are, as are-all the other parts made'of the same proportionsand corresponding angles, but their'numberisereduced, and they consist 0f a male and female member respectively,

jhaving opposing acute angle faces 17 interfitted with'the inner faces of two oppositely located frictional shoes 13, which shoes bear by their curved outer surfaces against 20 the interior wall of the cylinder.

In placefof the loose centering key 21 or 21", one of thesecondary wedges 16 is provided with a semi-cylindrical projection 21 extending into a receiving groove or recess 25 21 in the opposite wedge block and providing a journal bearing-for said parts. The

construction of this arrangement of second-.

ary wedge blocks is clearly illustrated in Figs. 7' and 8, and it will be observed that 0 the recess 21""is closed at the ends and the projection 21" sufliciently shortened to interfit therein,'so as to entirely prevent any lateral shifting.

Witheither construction, the operation is substantially the same. A positive bracing support for the inner ends of the wedges is provided, in the manner of a fulcrum, whereby the wedges are free to expand or collapse, especially the latter, upon release to of pressure.

Itwill be observed that the inner ends of the friction shoes 13 are flared off, as at 25 and 25*, from a point where the bearing surface 17 terminates, somewhat in advance ;-5 of. the supported inner tail portions of the secondary wedges 16. The purpose of such construction is to provide clearance so that in exerting pressure to create friction, either in buffing or in pulling ,by the separation of 0 the secondary wedges 16 by wedge 15, there will, on the release of such pressure, he no tendency to stick or bind, effecting an 1mmediate and complete collapsing of the sec-- ondary wedges and an immediately resulting 5 "release of the friction shoes 13.

' The pressure exerted by the central wedge 15 will cause. the secondary wedges to bear b their outer acute angles 18 tightly against t e inner flat faces of the friction shoes 13,

lefi'ecting a "slightseparation of the inner wedge blocks in the same relative position longitudinally of the gear; It prevents undue tipping of the inner ends or any undesirable shifting and tends to hold the entire construction inunitary arrangement.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Ina friction draft gear, the combine tion of a casing, a relatively movable drawbar, friction blocks engaging the casing, a

bufling block engaging the drawbar, and

differential angle wedge blocks. interposed between the friction blocks and the buffing block provided with an intervening supporting pivotal bearing.

2. In a friction draftgear, the combination of a casing, a relatively movable drawbar, friction blocks engaging the. casing,

bufling block engaging-the drawbar, and

wedge blocks interposed between the friction blocks and the buffing block provided at their inner ends with a key constituting pivotal bearings therefor. r

4; In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, friction s'hoeshaving innerwedge faces and terminal non-contacting clearance spaces, a central'wedge, and secondary wedges between the central wedge and said friction shoes extending inwardly of said clearance spaces and provided with an intervening supporting pivotal bearing.

5. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, friction shoes engaging the casing having inner wedge faces, a central wedge, and secondary wedges between the central wedge and saidfriction shoes having portions extended inwardly beyond the terminals of the wedge faces of the friction shoes and provided with an intervening pivotal bearin support.

6. In a iction draft gear, the combination of a casi a relatively movable drawbar, friction liIocks engaging the casing, a butting block engaging the drawbar, and wedge blocks interposed bet-ween the friction blocks and the bufling block provided at their inner ends with concave recesses and a pivot key.

7. In a friction draft gear, the combination of acasing, friction shoes having inneiwedge faces and terminal. clearance spaces, a central wedge, and secondary wed es between the central wedge and said I frictlon shoes, said secondary wedges extending inwardly ofisaid clearance spaces and each being provided with an inner eon--" cave recess, and a supporting and interlocking key, engaging said recesses and bracing friction shoes and provided .with interventhe secondary wedges apart. ing bearing portions constituting a fulcrum e 8. In a friction draft gear, the combinarest for the inner ends of said secondary tion of a casing, friction shoes engaging the wedges. a 5 casing having inner wedge faces on their In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 15 adjacent front portions, a central wedge, a signature in the presence of two witnesses.

drawbar, and seconda wedges interposed JOHN F. COURSON. between the central w ge and said friction Witnesses? shoes, having portions extended inwardly he- PETER GLIGK,

10 yond the terminals of the wedge faces of the C. M. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by eddressingvthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C." 

